Force India starts pre-season testing

Valencia: Force India`s new signings Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta took on the driving duties for the first time for the Formula One team starting a three-day pre-season testing programme at the Valencia permanent circuit.

The two drivers were officially taken on board last Wednesday.

In yesterday`s testing, the team used the VJM03 – last year`s challenger — to gather further tyre data, while development work continued on the VJM04 in the wind tunnel back at Silverstone.

Nico was first out in the car, completing 71 laps in total with a best time of 1:13.938, the second quickest time of the day, as he got up to speed with the car and the different protocols and procedures employed by the team.

Paul di Resta took over late afternoon and posted the fourth best time of the day after 28 laps.

Paul will continue the test tomorrow with Adrian Sutil taking over for the final day.

"Generally a very productive and promising first day with the team. The main goal was principally for me to get used to the team, the car and the new Pirelli tyres and my impressions of all were pretty positive. It was great to be back in an F1 car and I got back up to speed quicker than I thought," Nico said.

"A short outing for me today, but good to get back in the car and out on track again after a couple of months off. And great to be back in the team environment knowing that this is all building up to the start of my first season in F1. We completed just under 30 laps to get ready for the full day tomorrow," added Paul di Resta.